Inexperienced Wolf Pack linebackers out to prove they can be play-makers

When spring camp opened last week, first-year Wolf Pack football coach Brian Polian half-jokingly said the depth chart at some positions was “almost alphabetical.”

At no position was that statement truer than linebacker, where Nevada’s top four players from last season all graduated in the offseason. Replacing that quartet is a group of linebackers that has played about a dozen defensive snaps at the college level.

Projected starting middle backer Jordan Dobrich, a sophomore, said the green group is eager to prove it has the chops to be play-makers.

“It’s really exciting for all of us,” said Dobrich, who walked on to Nevada before earning a scholarship prior to last season. “There are always going to be those nerves when you first get out there and first start playing but after a while it’s like, ‘I’ve been waiting for this, I’ve been waiting to make plays, I’ve been waiting to go with the ones, I’ve been waiting to do what I’ve been dreaming to do my whole life.’”

Wolf Pack linebacker Burton De Koning, a sophomore, goes through drills during a practice earlier this week. (Tim Dunn/RGJ))

The linebacking foursome of Albert Rosette, DeAndre Boughton, Jeremiah Green and Dray Bell accounted for 345 tackles, including 14 for loss, and forced six fumbles in 2012. Each is gone this season.

This year’s projected starting three of Dobrich, Burton De Koning (weakside) and Jonathan McNeal (strongside) were all special teams players last season. They have accounted for 27 tackles at Nevada.

Polian is taking a wait-and-see approach with his linebackers. Today’s scrimmage, the first of spring camp, will give him and his staff more insight until what they’re working with at that position.

“That thing won’t wash out until practice seven or eight and we get to the first scrimmage and find out who can tackle and who can bring guys to the ground,” Polian said. “There’s a lot of good competition there. A lot of guys are showing themselves and making some plays, so that’s been good.”

First-year defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton is employing a player-friendly scheme, the Tampa 2, in place the cover 4, which Nevada used last year. Hazelton coached Southern Cal’s linebackers last season and is working with the Wolf Pack’s inexperienced group this year in addition to his coordinator duties.

“The best part about him is he’s teaching it to us like a sixth-grader could understand it,” De Koning said. “He takes a difficult, college-level defense with blitzing and twists and makes it simple and easy to understand so you don’t mess it up. Everybody is stepping up, doing their job. I’m happy with it so far.”

Said Dobrich: “What’s cool about this defense is the reads are really quick and it allows us to play fast. That’s what I really like. We can play fast as a defense, make really good reads and play downhill.”

Hazelton said there’s “no doubt” Nevada has enough talent at linebacker to succeed this season. The last two Wolf Pack linebacker coaches, Andy Buh (Cal) and Ken Wilson (Washington State), coach in the Pac-12. Hazelton said they left behind some quality players even if they have limited game experience.

“They’ve had some good traits bred into them,” Hazelton said. “They’re hard workers, they grind out at practice. Every day they come in and want to get better. In meetings, they stayed locked in. It’s a quality group of men. Usually when you go places you have a couple of knuckleheads who don’t want to go to class or do stuff wrong off the field. But this is a group of quality men and you can work with that.”

Hazelton couldn’t remember a time he’s worked with a unit with this much inexperience, but he didn’t seem too worried. His Tampa 2 defense, a staple in the NFL, is fairly easy to pick up.

“We’ve had true freshmen start in this package,” Hazelton said. “We’ve had first-year players who find their role and niche and get playing time. Honestly, it doesn’t matter too much if a guy has played a whole bunch or not because they’re learning a new defense and all starting at the same spot.”

The Wolf Pack also will add two ready-to-play junior-college transfers in fall camp.

Ian Seau, who began his career at Kansas State, and Matthew Lyons, who started at Washington, join the team next August and should push for immediate playing time. Hazelton is trying to turn the fact the team doesn’t have a returning starter at linebacker into a positive.

“It keeps the competition alive,” Hazelton said. “If you know you have two guys competing for a job they push each other all by themselves and as a coach it’s easy because you can stick to coaching and not have to worry about motivating near as much. It’s good to have all kinds of bodies coming in.”

WOLF PACK FOOTBALL

The Wolf Pack lost its top four linebackers from last year, leaving an inexperienced group. Defensive coordinator Scottie Hazelton is installing a new Tampa 2 defense. Here’s a look at the projected starting linebackers, with a quote from Hazelton on the role of that position in his defense.

Middle:Jordan Dobrich, so.: “The ‘mike’ needs to be a true leader, a guy who can run and play the middle of the field and really lead and get us lined up right.”

Weakside:Burton De Koning, so.: “Our ‘will’ is primarily the guy who’s the truest linebacker out of the group. The tough guy, the guy who makes a lot of plays and is a real physical player.”

Strongside:Jonathan McNeal, jr.: “The ‘sam’ is a space guy. He’s almost like a safety where he has to run and doesn’t have to be as smart as the other two, but he has to be more athletic.”

About this blog

Longtime RGJ Media reporter Dan Hinxman is the authority on Wolf Pack athletics, bringing you the day-to-day coverage of Nevada’s sports teams. Dan has covered almost everything the Northern Nevada sports scene has to offer and will use his knowledge to bring you authoritative and engaging Wolf Pack content. Follow him on Twitter at @DanHinxmanRGJ.